How Self-Made Millionaires Use Their 86,400 Seconds in Each Day to Get Rich

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Within the fleeting gift of each day, 86,400 seconds bestowed upon us all, lies the secret of millionaires. I, shall reveal how the prosperous transform these moments into gold. Through my five-year study of 233 wealthy souls—177 self-made—emerge truths that beckon us all to action. Let us walk this path together, with fervor and faith, to uncover how millionaires wield time as their greatest ally.

Each day, the wealthy rise with purpose. My research unveiled that 76% of self-made millionaires dedicate 30 minutes or more to self-education—reading, learning, growing.

Rich Habit #1: “I will form good habits and become their slave.”

These titans of wealth I interviewed over a five-year period, devoted valuable seconds to books, industry journals, biographies of successful people, daily practice. They said no to idle screens (67% watch less than an hour of TV daily).

Time is the currency of wealth; spend it on self-improvement, and riches follow.

A software mogul in his daily study credited daily learning for sparking innovations that built his empire. Each tick of the clock, used wisely, compounds into fortunes.

Yet, it is not study alone that forges wealth. My data sings of discipline: 88% of millionaires set daily goals, carving their 86,400 seconds into deliberate acts. They shun procrastination, “I will take action now,” is a common mantra of the self-made rich.

Networking, among the self-made, consumed five hours monthly for 79% of the rich, often through volunteering (72% give five hours to non-profits, 27% serve on boards). These connections, forged in service to others, yield partnerships, opportunities, power relationships and open doors that are otherwise closed.

One entrepreneur in my Rich Habits Study met a pivotal investor while serving on a charity, turning seconds of goodwill into millions.

The wealthy plant seeds in every moment, knowing in just one second, opportunity may bloom.

Third-party voices echo this gospel.

The 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy finds affluent households—mirroring my millionaire subjects—invest time strategically, with over 50% volunteering, building networks that amplify wealth.

A Harvard Business Review study confirms disciplined time management correlates with higher earnings; those who prioritize tasks, as my millionaires do, outpace peers by 20% in income growth.

The National Bureau of Economic Research adds that self-made millionaires work 10–15% more hours on high-value tasks, their 86,400 seconds sculpted with precision and single-minded focus.

A Journal of Occupational Health study links structured routines to reduced stress, supporting my finding that 86% of millionaires love their work, fueled by purposeful days.

The millionaire’s secret is no mystery but a choice: to treat each second as sacred.

“I will not waste this day,” famous author Og Mandino would urge, and my research agrees.

Shun the trivial, embrace the vital—study, plan, connect.

The 86,400 seconds gifted today are your canvas. Paint that canvas with the habits of the rich, and success/wealth shall begin to flow into your life.

Begin now, for time waits not. The scroll of success is written in seconds.

Tom Corley

Tom Corley is an accountant, financial planner, public speaker, and author of the books “Effort-Less Wealth: Smart Money Habits At Every Stage of Your Life” and “RichKids: How to Raise Our Children to Be Happy and Successful in Life“.  Corley’s work has appeared on CNN, USA Today, The Huffington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, and many other media outlets and podcasts in the U.S. and 27 other countries. Tom is a frequent contributor to Business Insider and CNBC.